Ladder



(No Model.)

W. S. THOMAS.

LA DER; No. 257,411. Patented May 2,1882.

. WITNESSES: 4 INVENTOIIL:

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ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WINFIELD S. THOMAS, OF EAST DIXFIELD, MAINE.

LADDER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 257,411, dated May 2, 1882. 2

Application filed March 15, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WINFIELD SooTT THOM- AS, of East Dixfield, Oxford county, Maine, have invented a new and Improved Ladder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention consists in a novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similarletters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

Figure l is a front elevation of my improved ladder as adjusted for the greatest height, with some of the parts in section; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the improved ladder as when arranged in the self-supporting position.

A represents the side bars, and B the steps, of the lower section, to one of which side bars I apply an extension-foot, (J, for use, as indicated in the drawings, upon uneven ground, the said foot-piece being arranged to slide in a clip, 1), attached to the side bar a suitable distance above its lower end, and also being slotted at E below said clip to slide along the on each other when clamped in clamp-bolt F, which is firmly secured in the side bar .a short distance above its lower end. The surfaces of the side bar and the extensionfoot are notched or serrated, as seen through slot E in Fig.2, to prevent them from slipping position by the bolt.

The top section of theladder is composed of the side bars G and steps Ll. It is made in A-shape in order to have the side bars unite in a point, I, at the top for greater strength and for the resting of the top better on the ground when used as a brace to the bottom section, as seen in Fig. 2, and a spike of metal, J, is inserted for the better security ofthe foot of the brace. To accommodate this pointed shape of the upper section the lower section is also made convergent upon the same angle, so

(No model.)

lower ends of its side bars to the lower section by the rod K as much below the top of said lower section as it is desired that the two sections shall overlap each other, and on this pivot the top section turns when shifted from one condition to another, theends of the bolt being riveted or otherwise permanently secured.

For a locking device to connect the two sections substantially in the condition of the long ladder a rod, L, which also serves for a step, is passed through side bars G in slotted holes M, which are so located. with reference to the upper ends of side bars A that when said top section is adjusted in line with the bottom section the rod will drop into notches N, made for the purpose, in the upper ends of. the side bars of said bottom section and lock the two sections in that position. To secure the rod in the notches N pins 0 are, inserted in holes through side bars Gr traversing the slotted holes M just over the rod to prevent it from being displaced by accident.

By this contrivance a substantial and useful ladder is provided, capable of service as an ordinary ladder, also as a self-supporting one, and also as benches for scaffolding and the like. v

Having thus described my invention,Iclain1 as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcut- 1. In a ladder, the combination, with the lower section provided with the notches N in the ends of its side bars A, of the upper section pivoted to the said lower section and having its side bars G provided with the slots M,

and the rod L, working in the said slots and" 

